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The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

20th March 2026


20 March 2026

Statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable.

We are all aware of the challenges before us — fewer clergy, changing patterns of practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead our people to Christ.

Two possible pathways are being proposed for careful discernment: developing deeper cooperation and the sharing of resources across dioceses within our present structures, or the merging of some dioceses.

In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect, and contribute.

Following-on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn.

This is not simply an administrative exercise. It is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people.

Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.


Contact:

Media Office

Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
64 Aitken Street, ML6 6LT
Tel: 01236 764061
Email: [email protected]

The Roman Catholic Bishops in Scotland work together to undertake nationwide initiatives through their Commissions and Agencies.

The members of the Bishops' Conference are the Bishops of the eight Scottish Dioceses. Where appropriate the Bishops Emeriti (retired) provide a much welcomed contribution to the work of the conference. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland is a permanently constituted assembly which meets regularly throughout the year to address relevant business matters.

Members of The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

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News from the Commissions and Agencies

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June 2024
https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-thomas-more/
Pray for our politicians on this feast of St Thomas More- May our Catholic politicians be faithful to the Church’s teaching especially promoting and protecting life from the womb , during life and at the end of life. 🙏


Made famous by his own holy life and featured in the movie "A Man for All Seasons," Saint Thomas More is the patron of those in the legal profession. Husband, father, chancellor, and lawyer, Thomas More was reluctantly martyred by King Henry VIII in 1535.

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General Election 2024

A letter from the Catholic Bishops of Scotland

This General Election presents us with an opportunity to connect our voting to our Catholic faith and elect an individual representative who reflects as closely as possible our values and beliefs.

It is an opportunity to proclaim the dignity and value of every human being, made in the image and likeness of God, and promote the common good. The human person is both the foundation and the goal of society, and the principal task of society is to defend and foster human dignity in its laws and institutions which should, in turn, support peace and justice at home and abroad.

During elections, a range of issues compete for our attention. And whilst the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland does not endorse or support individual candidates or parties, we highlight some of the key issues here so that individual Catholics may reflect on, and raise them, with parliamentary candidates.

Human Life

It is the duty of all of us to uphold the most basic and fundamental human right – the right to life, which is both inalienable and inviolable. At the heart of the political response to the Covid Pandemic was the desire to protect and care for the most vulnerable. In a truly compassionate society, this desire to protect and care ought to extend to all people, including the unborn child in the womb. We should urge MPs to recognise human life from the moment of conception and ensure that the conditions are present to protect and care for both mother and child.

This also applies at the end of life. Dangerous proposals to legalise assisted suicide must be rejected in favour of improvements to palliative care and a commitment to meet the needs of vulnerable people at the end of life, including providing the care and compassion they need to help them live. Our politicians should be urged to learn the lessons of how assisted suicide legislation introduced in some countries has already become an intolerable and unjust pressure upon the elderly, the weak and the disabled to see themselves - and to be considered by others - a burden to society and thus to end their lives, or have their lives ended for them. This is an injustice that ought to be resisted before it can begin.

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Yesterday the Bishops' Conference paid a visit to Holyrood to meet politicians from all parties.













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https://www.ccee.eu/the-cry-of-creation-as-a-challenge-for-an-ecological-conversion/?lang=en


Safeguard of Creation The cry of creation as a challenge for an ecological conversion The meeting of the Bishops and National Directors in Munich Between 9 and 12 June 2024 took place the meeting of the bishops & national directors for safeguard of creation of the European bishops’ conferences. Th...

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https://www.dbk.de/presse/aktuelles/meldung/oekumenischer-gottesdienst-zur-eroeffnung-der-uefa-euro-2024-1
Ecumenical Prayer Service for Euros 🙏

At the start of the European Football Championship, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and the German Bishops' Conference celebrated an ecumenical service today (June 14, 2024) in the Jesuit Church of St. Michael in Munich. Under the motto “United”, representatives from church, sport, politics and society came together with numerous fans and volunteers to pray for a peaceful and unifying tournament. Among the guests at the service were the Bavarian State Minister for the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, the Secretary General of the Scottish Bishops' Conference, Fr. Gerard Maguiness, the Presidents of the German and Scottish Football Association, Bernd Neuendorf (DFB) and Mike Mulraney (SFA), as well as the Representative of the city of Munich, Ulrike Grimm.


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Pope Francis got a chuckle from an audience of comedians after suggesting he throw away his prepared remarks and simply make people laugh with a silly gesture. ⁣

Following St. Thomas Aquinas' advice, “Those who lack playfulness are sinful,” the pope joked, “I’ll do this, and we will all laugh,” holding his thumb to his head and wiggling his fingers.⁣

Addressing over 100 comics, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and Conan O’Brien on June 14, Francis praised their ability to spread peace and smiles amid gloomy news. “You have the power to spread peace and smiles,” he said. “Humor does not offend, humiliate, or put people down.”⁣

He added, “In the midst of so many social and personal emergencies, you bring a miracle by making people smile.” The pope also shared an Italian saying, “Il sorriso fa buon sangue,” meaning “smiling brings good health.”⁣

Stephen Colbert reflected, “It was lovely to hear the pope acknowledge that there’s a value in humor for people’s hearts.” Jim Gaffigan, who attended with his family, said, “I’m going to brag about meeting the pope. That’s so cool.”⁣

Pope Francis referenced a prayer he has prayed daily for over 40 years: “Give me a sense of humor, Lord.” The full version of the prayer was read aloud by Italian comedian Luciana Littizzetto at the end of the audience.⁣

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Day for Life 2024 - Compassion and hope at the end of life.

A letter by Bishop John Keenan, Bishop of Paisley.

Read the letter here: https://rcpolitics.org/day-for-life-2024-compassion-and-hope-at-the-end-of-life/

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